MEASUREMENTS
Height: 6’2.25″ (without shoes)
Wingspan: 6’8.75″
Standing reach: 8’2″
Weight: 193 pounds
Standing vertical: 35″ (tied for highest at 2024 Combine)
Max vertical: 42″ (tied for highest at 2024 Combine)
BACKGROUND
The son of 13-year NBA veteran Anthony Carter, Devin Carter is a 22-year-old guard out of Providence College, where he won Big East Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season after leading the Friars to the NCAA Tournament the year prior. He spent his first college season at South Carolina after completing a post-graduate year at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, the same prep school that Hornets legend Devonte’ Graham attended.
Carter put up career-highs across the board last season, averaging 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game as Providence’s top option on both ends of the floor. As a 6-foot-3 guard, he collected 1.8 steals and 1 block to just 1.9 personal fouls per game.
STRENGTHS
Tenacious defense, two-way versatility, shooting range and confidence
Hard-nosed defender with the athletic package, strength and long wingspan to make up for a slight size disadvantage against wings and bigger guards. Averaged 1.1 blocks per game as a sophomore and 1 block last season despite being 6-foot-3. Essentially an undersized wing defensively with playmaking and shotmaking capability to be a combo guard offensively. Should be able to switch 1-3, defend the point of attack, get steals and run in transition, provide secondary rim protection and rebound at an elite rate for a guard (8.7 per game last season).
High-level vertical athlete with speed and explosiveness in the open court and in traffic, very quick feet on-ball defensively along with great instincts for stocks — fantastic athlete and feel for the game overall, enticing combination of elite-level attributes. Tested very well at the Combine and frequently pops on tape with poster dunks, bullet train speed and attack mentality in transition, and lateral quickness when shuffling his feet guarding on-ball, strength in fighting through screens and agility and flexibility in navigating screens, deceleration into pull-up jumpers. Total package athletically for a guard.
Great finisher at the rim contact or otherwise, can handle the ball through contact and attacks with relentlessness. Timely cutter in the halfcourt, genuine lob threat on baseline cuts, not a surefire “great” shooter but made a huge jump this season. High volume, deep range off the bounce, going to be someone defenses have to respect or else his confidence will take over. Clearly has the ability to heat up in a hurry. Marcus Smart-type player on both ends of the floor, in spirit and in practice.
Versatile shot profile, makes difficult shots look easy. Shot is a total moonball that sometimes rises out of camera view entirely on deeper attempts, but the long-range touch is evident–makes fall right through. Took 225 jumpers last year per Synergy–40.2% off the catch, 44.9% contested, 32.7% uncontested, 34% off the dribble (97 off the dribble attempts). I’m buying the efficiency jump this year–with increased usage and attention from opposing defenses, Carter’s percentages still rose considerably.
Excellent pick and roll playmaker, had palpable chemistry with his bigs, hit them on the roll with a head of steam, times his break off screens well, makes accurate pocket passes, can throw one-handed live-dribble passes pretty easily, quickly and accurately. Reads defenses well on the move, corner skips are crisp off a live dribble. Not a true point guard–doesn’t shift or manipulate the defense with his eyes or handle–definitely has some initiator qualities in his pace and vision, just not the most creative playmaker.
QUESTION MARKS
Upside given age, off-ball gravity
Drafting a 22-year-old in the top-10 (or at six) is a risk. Here are the lottery picks since 2021 that were 21+ years old on draft night: Cam Johnson, Obi Toppin, Davion Mitchell, Chris Duarte, Corey Kispert (15th pick), Ochai Agbaji. Few of those players have developed much, if at all, since entering the league. I’m confident Carter is a quality NBA rotation player right now, but history strongly suggests there’s limited room for growth going forward.
As mentioned, Carter made a huge leap as a shooter this year. That strikingly low uncontested 3-point percentage can mean one of two things; this year was an anomaly and he’s really an average shooter at best, or that specific subcategory was an anomaly and will rise in time to match his percentages on more difficult shots. I lean entirely towards the latter. He gets good lift on his jumper, has feathery touch at all three levels, and finishes at the rim at a 65.9% clip to leverage the scoring off the bounce. I’m buying Carter’s jumper.
OVERALL OUTLOOK
Real chance to stick as a top-7 rotation guy if the shooting meets the defensive impact, and he’s been trending strongly in that direction since transferring to Providence. Ideal version of him is gonna feast off catch and shoot threes, attacking closeouts and defending across the positional spectrum and locking down the point of attack with tenacity, adding secondary playmaking and elite positional rebounding as ancillary skills. Refuses to quit, elevates his play to meet the moment and has all the intangibles. Watch Providence-Creighton from February 7th. Top-10 in a weak class when it’s all said and done–I would throw Carter in a team’s playoff rotation right now and not feel worried about it.
Slots in immediately as the third guard in the rotation–pretty clearly above Tre Mann and Vasilije Micic in my opinion, Carter’s defense is far better than both while offering elite positional rebounding, shooting gravity and efficiency at the rim. Neck-breaking pace of play fits perfectly with LaMelo Ball offensively, and dog mentality on defense and ability to defend the point of attack lets Ball fill an off-ball roamer role that better suits him. Age and upside are brought into question when selecting him at six, but Carter is a safe top-8 prospect to me. Worth the gamble on what’s ideally a surefire contributor in year one.
